George Entwistle’s resignation let’s in new BBC boss Tim Davie

YOU can says one thing in George Entwistle’s favour. The hapless journalist’s resignation from his post as BBC director general made 24-hour rolling news worthwhile. The Beeb last updated new of his departure at 4.41am.

Mr Entwistle issued a statement:

“I have decided that the honourable thing to do is to step down.”

Mr Entwistle will appear on the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme this morning to talk about Jimmy Savile, the paedo he never exposed, and Lord AcAlpine, the innocent man the BBC put in the line of fire.

That’s the rich and powerful Andrew Marr who bought a super-injunction preventing anyone from reporting on aspects of his life. He’ll get to the truth.

The BBC will report on the BBC. The other thing you can say about the BBC is that the corporation has reacted positively to cuts in its budget. What better what to cut down on expensive outside broadcasts and travel costs than by creating a huge story about itself?

Mr Entwistle adds:

“In the light of the fact that the director general is also the editor in chief and ultimately responsible for all content, and in the light of the unacceptable journalistic standards of the Newsnight film broadcast on Friday 2 November, I have decided that the honourable thing to do is to step down from the post of director general….However the wholly exceptional events of the past few weeks have led me to conclude that the BBC should appoint a new leader…

“To have been the director general of the BBC even for a short period, and in the most challenging of circumstances, has been a great honour. While there is understandable public concern over a number of issues well covered in the media – which I’m confident will be addressed by the review process – we must not lose sight of the fact that the BBC is full of people of the greatest talent and the highest integrity.

“That’s what will continue to make it the finest broadcaster in the world.”

Mr Entwistle added that he was going to “spend some time with my family”.

The new caretaker boss is Tim Davie, director of BBC Audio and Music.

Robin Lustig, presenter of World Tonight, tweeted: “Tim Davie has no background in journalism. He’s a good man, but just saying …”

Great choice, then. Because when the fat lady sings, you need a man who can make it into a bloody good show.

The prime candidate for wielding the axe to sort this out should be ex-BBC Newsnight journo Liz MacKean. She is the only one to have shown grace and honourable choice by taking voluntary redundancy this getting away from the unconscionable liars, yes men/women and weasel-wordy admin staff which infest our old Aunty.

Who better to gather the team (not necessarily lead it) to root out the dross than the professionals who have had to suffer the indignity of working under the crass idiots who have created this appalling situation.